Laura Fidelie has dedicated the past six years empowering students with her knowledge as a criminal justice professor.

She also spends her time teaching abroad for the British Studies program.

With a mountain of accreditations, six publications in peer-reviewed journals, encyclopedia entries and book reviews, Fidelie  decided to tackle a new project this February by filling the role of faculty sponsor for theAlpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society.

According to Taylor Jackson,  president of Alpha Phi Sigma, the honor society had been inactive since 2004.

Last spring, the five remaining members joined forces and made steps to reinstate the society with national headquarters.

“In the spring of 2012, we only had two members,” Jackson said. “With help, we managed to recruit three more.  Five members basically had to work alone.”

Jackson said students wanted to distinguish themselves for all their hard work in the Criminal Justice department and went above and beyond to reach their goals of revamping the honor society with some new blood and a new adviser.

In fact, Jackson said, most students do not even realize that Alpha Phi Sigma is or was ever active.

Other than a few flyers hanging in the Martin building, students have gone years without being informed of the honor society, making it nearly impossible for students in the criminal justice field to seek out the society on their own.

Jackson and vice president of Alpha Phi Sigma, Luzmila Moreno, along with Linda Aguilera sought out Fidelie based on their experiences with her both in the classroom and her prestige in the criminal justice field.

“As a group, we all decided that professor Fidelie would be the absolute best option,” Moreno said. “I’ve known her since my first year at MSU, and she has always stood out to me above all other professors.  I even studied with her abroad in London.”

Both Jackson and Moreno said they knew Fidelie was already an extremely busy individual.

In fact, Fidelie just completed a book manuscript, Criminal Law: Core Concepts, to be published next year.

Nevertheless, Moreno said they were steadfast in their belief that Fidelie was the right person for the job.

“She is extremely smart and constantly working,” Jackson said. “Even with her busy schedule, she compiled a list of eligible members and took time out of her Sunday to attend our new members’ induction.”

Due to the work of the members of Alpha Phi Sigma, Fidelie is now an honorary member of Alpha Phi Sigma.

Before the students approached her with the adviser proposition, she had never been associated with Alpha Phi Sigma.

“She helped us without any obligation to do so,” Moreno said.

According to Jackson and Moreno, to be eligible as a faculty sponsor, one must be distinguished and prestigious within the field of criminal justice.

Officers of the chapter must elect a faculty sponsor, and it was Jackson’s job to submit Fidelie’s resume and accreditations to national headquarters.

Jackson’s request for those documents reaffirmed the chapter’s decision to elect Fidelie as faculty sponsor.

“She gave me a ‘short’ resume,” Jackson said with a chuckle. “And by short, I mean she gave me a 10-page booklet of awards, publications and journal entries.”

Jackson said she believes that the success of the MSU chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma will be correlated with Fidelie’s involvement and interest in her students’ success, and she has never come up short in that department.

“She is so humble,” Moreno explained. “Woman-to-woman, she is very inspiring. She empowers women and is incredibly encouraging. She is such a positive role model to her female students.”

According to Fidelie, it was an honor just being asked to fill the position of faculty sponsor and she said yes immediately.

Getting to know and work with her students outside of class is one of the great privileges given to university faculty members, she said.

Fidelie plans to return to London this summer as assistant director.

Along with her new duties as faculty sponsor of Alpha Phi Sigma, the ten-student classes allow faculty and students to interact with each other and instructors much more than they would in a traditional class setting.

In addition, Fidelie said she believes awareness should be raised about Alpha Phi Sigma because of the great work and achievements that each student member has accomplished.

“These students are incredibly dedicated and have given so much, both to MSU and the larger community,” she said. “I am so proud of all that they do and the way they represent MSU and the Criminal Justice department.”

Fidelie also loves being able to give the students the tools they need to turn their fantastic ideas into reality, and thoroughly enjoys getting to know her students outside the classroom.

“My plans for Alpha Phi Sigma are to give the students whatever help and guidance they need to fulfill their goals,” she said.  “The honor society belongs to the students, so their goals are my goals. They are definitely the heart and driving force of their honor society.”

With Fidelie as Alpha Phi Sigma’s faculty adviser, according to her doting students, that heart beats a little bit stronger.